unreasonable

adjective

un·​rea·​son·​able

ˌən-ˈrēz-nə-bəl,

-ˈrē-zᵊn-ə-bəl 

1

a

: not governed by or acting according to reason

unreasonable people

b

: not conformable to reason : absurd

unreasonable beliefs

2

: exceeding the bounds of reason or moderation

working under unreasonable pressure

unreasonableness

ˌən-ˈrēz-nə-bəl-nəs

-ˈrē-zᵊn-ə-bəl- 

noun

unreasonably

ˌən-ˈrēz-nə-blē

-ˈrē-zᵊn-ə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• baseless
• foundationless
• groundless
• invalid
• nonvalid
• unfounded
• unsubstantiated
• unsupported
• unwarranted

Examples of unreasonable in a Sentence

I told him that I wouldn't pay unless he sent me a replacement. Am I being unreasonable?

You are entitled to compensation for unreasonable delays.

Recent Examples on the Web

As Barca laboured and eventually failed to land some of its transfer targets such as Nico Williams, the proposal for Casado might not have seemed too unreasonable at the time. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

The indictment alleged Hankison deprived Taylor of the right to be free from unreasonable seizures and deprived her neighbors of the right to be free from the deprivation of liberty without due process of law. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2024

How could anyone find Silverstein’s reaction unreasonable? —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2024

Some will dismiss Conclave’s late-stage reveal as a cheap twist, and given how much the film traffics in Bravo-level rumors and nastiness, that’s not an unreasonable conclusion. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Legal Definition

unreasonable

adjective

un·​rea·​son·​able

: not reasonable : beyond what can be accepted: as

a

: clearly inappropriate, excessive, or harmful in degree or kind

an unreasonable delay

an unreasonable restraint of trade

b

: lacking justification in fact or circumstance

an unreasonable inference

especially : irrational sense b

the agency decision was unreasonable

c

: not supported by a warrant or by a valid exception to a warrant requirement (as when there is reasonable suspicion) and therefore unconstitutional

the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated

—U.S. Constitution amend. IV

see also search, seizure

unreasonableness noun

unreasonably adverb